Blue Like Jazz

I picked up Blue Like Jazz (by Donald Miller) this evening to re-read some of my most favorite parts. As I was flipping through it, I saw I had underlined, and written thoughts

on the side of the pages when I had originally first read this book...I remember

I laughed, cried, and tattered the edges of the pages.

"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve, But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes. After that I liked jazz music. Sometimes you have to watch somebody love someting before you can love it yourself." 

"In America, the first generation out of slavery invented jazz music. It is a free-form expression. It comes from the soul, and it is true."

"But what song will you sing when your soul gets set free? 

I think it will be something true and beautiful."

~Donald Miller

(photos courtesy of:weheartit)

Sabrina Fair

I have always loved the name "Sabrina" since I first saw the movie. One rainy day when I was visiting Portland, I saw an older gentleman sitting with a blazer and cane, waiting for the bus. We began to talk and  he told me how he had been in the military, been stationed in Japan and had met his wife; a ballerina. They had one daughter who he would take out on a daddy, daughter date once a week. I asked him, "What's your daughter's name?" He answered, "Sabrina". 

"Sabrina fair, listen where thou art sitting. Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave. In twisted braids of lilies knitting, the loose train of thy amber-dropping hair." ~John Milton

Linus Larrabee:"So, your little poem - what does it mean?" 

Sabrina:"It's the story of a water sprite who saved a virgin from a fate worse than death." 

Linus Larrabee: "And Sabrina's the virgin." 

Sabrina: [quietly] "Sabrina's the savior." 

(photos courtesy of: google)

Dolphin Memories

When I was little I had a silver dolphin ring that was given to me; I loved that ring. I wore it everyday. I remember reading books about dolphins at the library and thinking 

"I want to see a real dolphin one day".

I lost that ring eventually but my wish to see a real dolphin did come true. I was in Thailand, sitting on the back of a boat, my feet were dangling in the water as the boat was taking me back to shore. I remember being by myself when all of a sudden seeing something swimming behind the boat and then realizing they were dolphins. They were so graceful; it felt like that moment was just for me.

 After they stopped following, the sun set. 

It was magical.

(photos courtesy of:weheartit)

"Be wise as serpents, yet..."

"I always believed it was the things you don't choose that makes you who you are. Your city, your neighborhood, your family. People here take pride in these things, like it was something they'd accomplished. The bodies around their souls, the cities wrapped around those. I lived on this block my whole life; most of these people have. When your job is to find people who are missing, it helps to know where they started. I find the people who started in the cracks and then fell through. This city can be hard. When I was young, I asked my priest how you could get to heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world. He told me what God said to His children. 

"You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves"  

Gone Baby Gone 

click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pVcYfYhe4w

(photos courtesy of:weheartit) 

The gift of history~Pearl Harbor

For the past several months I have been wanting to learn more about World War II. 
Today, I learned more about Pearl Harbor, things I had never known before. 
History can be a gift.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of theUnited Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and the four others present were damaged. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 men were killed^[12] and 1,282 wounded. The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day (December 8) the United States declared war on Japan.

"World War II for us began at Pearl Harbor, and 1,177 men still lie entombed in the battleship Arizona. America suffered…but America grew strong. It was not inevitable. The times tried our souls and through that trial, 

we overcame."

(photos courtesy of:google image, article courtesy of: wikipedia)

My Sister

Susan "lily"

B. 

Ethridge

Brak

Our voices sound really different, but

I've realized that when we are around

each other, our laughs are the same...

or 

maybe it's just we find the same things really funny.

I'm so lucky to have a sister, but more than just

a sister, a best friend. 

I love you Susan. 

A Brand New Day

Rest your head and close your eyes

Everything will be okay

For when you wake with the sweet sunrise

It will be a brand new day

For when you wake with the soft morning breeze

It will be a brand new day 

Let all of life's worries melt away

For when you wake with the warm summer scent

It will be a brand new day 

~Aeni

(Photos courtesy of: weheartit)

Tru Grace

Tru Grace Smith born March 12, 2011 @ 5:02 am

- 8lbs 5oz

- 19.5 inches

Proud parents: Mark & Ashley Smith

Proud big brother: Trey Smith

Dear Tru, 

You are so beautiful. I love your name; it is perfect. 

I can't wait to meet you one day.

Love, 

Libby 

(photos courtesy of:weheartit.com)

Spring is in the Air

This morning I looked out the window and saw a little robin bird, then on the way home from work, I actually had my car window rolled part way down without my coat on...I think spring is in the air! Spring is one of my most favorite seasons. I've always lived places where the winters are cold and snowy, so I think part of the appeal of spring has always been that it promises warmth. But more than just warmth, you begin to hear birds chirping, the trees begin to bud and the flowers...oh the flowers! 

That is my weakness; seeing flowers begin to bloom always makes me sigh and want to break out in song like I am in a Disney animated movie (I withhold the breaking out into song due to public awareness and awkwardness). 

Now in a few days, if I write that it is snowing, just remind me of today. 

(photos courtesy of: weheartit)

Pink

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." 

-Audrey Hepburn

In Japan, the color pink has a masculine association. The annual blooming of the cherry trees, with it's pink blossoms, each spring ( the Sakura ) is said to represent the young Japanese warriors who fell in battle in the prime of life ( the Samurai).

"Pink is the color of romance and a friend tells me that the girl with the pink dress at the party is the one who is selected for each dance."

-Alfred Carl Hottes

(photos courtesy of: weheartit)

Lullaby for Cooper Michael

Dedicated to Cooper Michael, born on March 8, 2011, and to his wonderful parents, 

Bryan & Tiffany...I'm so happy for your precious gift.

"Lullaby"
They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come

Life began when I saw your face

And I hear your laugh like a serenade
How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough, is forever enough

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough

Cause I'm never, never giving you up
As you wander through this troubled world

In search of all things beautiful

You can close your eyes when you're miles away

And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough, is forever enough

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough, is forever enough

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

Is forever enough

Cause I'm never, never giving you up

To listen to "Lullaby" by the Dixie Chicks, click on the link below
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHOzPFYDaQc&feature=related

(photos courtesy of: weheartit)

Dream Get Away

Maybe it's the rain & wind today but I have been day dreaming of
 packing a little bag, with a sun-dress, sandals, and swimsuit in it 

and to simply go here:) 

I haven't been to a tropical location for a long time, but I still remember the feel

of the sand under my feet, the smell of the water, and ending the day

watching as the sun slipped away.

 I feel like sighing right now....ahhh. 

(Photos courtesy of: weheartit.com)

A Woman

Woman is a miracle of divine contradictions.

Jules Michelet

The angel of the Family is Woman. Mother, wife, or sister, Woman is the caress of life, the soothing sweetness of affection shed over its toils, a reflection for the individual of the loving providence which watches over Humanity. In her there is treasure enough of consoling tenderness to allay every pain. Moreover for every one of us she is the initiator of the future. The mother's first kiss teaches the child love; the first holy kiss of the woman he loves teaches man hope and faith in life; and love and faith create a desire for perfection and the power of reaching towards it step by step; create the future, in short, of which the living symbol is the child, link between us and the generations to come. 
Giuseppe Mazzini

Be to her virtues very kind,

Be to her faults a little blind.

Matthew Prior

Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him.

Matthew Henry

(Photos courtesy of: weheartit.com)

A little story...Pixar

On Saturday evening I had the television on with the two ladies
I take care of and we found Pixar Short Films were playing...they were so adorable! 

"Pixar Animation Studios is an American animation film studio based in California.
The studio has earned twenty-six Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammys". 

They have created the films:

Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, 
and my personal favorite, Up.
If you want something sweet, funny and adorable, to watch,
Pixar Short Film Collection will be almost perfect:) 

(Photos courtesy of: google image) 

Cozy Sunday

co·zy  

enjoying or affording comforting warmth and shelter especially in a small space; 

"a cozy nook near the fire"; 

"snug in bed"; "a snug little apartment" 

a state of warm snug comfort

(photos courtesy of weheartit.com)